April 2009 | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for April, 2009

FREE Contract Award

Friday, April 17th, 2009

The US Army has awarded ADS Inc of Virginia Beach, VA a contract for the new Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble (FREE). ADS will lead a team of over ten U.S. technical garment manufacturers and technical textile companies to produce and supply the versatile, multi-layer, 17-component system for fielding this year.

The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office, Product Manager, Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM-CIE) awarded this indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract consisting of a base year and three additional option years. If all contract options are exercised the total contract value will exceed $1 billion.

FREE is designed specifically for aviation and combat vehicle crewmen, and utilizes advanced textile technologies in a range of garments, from lightweight base layers to weather-protecting outerwear. Contractors include Barrier-Wear, Massif, Darn Tough Vermont, Polartec and London Bridge.

Posted in Clothing, Contracts, FR | Comments Off on FREE Contract Award

Great IWA Coverage at Strike-Hold!

Friday, April 17th, 2009

Our friends at Strike-Hold! have published some outstanding IWA coverage including pictures and background data on Defcon 5 from Italy, Germany’s Lindnerhof-Taktik, Tac-Gear and Heim Military & Outdoor, Britain’s Jack Pyke as well as the USA’s Eagle Industries and Condor Outdoor Products. For those of you have never heard of IWA, think SHOT Show in Germany.

DEFCON 5 Polo in Vegetato Camo

Defcon 5’s polo in Vegetato Camo was my favorite piece from the article.

All in all it’s a great article, full of insight and the pictures alone are well worth the jump.

Posted in Camo, Clothing, Foreign, PALS | Comments Off on Great IWA Coverage at Strike-Hold!

DIY Tactical’s New Site

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

When we need raw materials for a custom project we go to DIY Tactical and they recently revamped their site adding a whole host of new features including RSS feeds to keep you updated. Additionally, the “wishlist” option allows you to form a list of products you want to purchase at a later date. They have also added a “kits” section featuring instructions and materials to make basic nylon projects.

Check out the new site www.diytacticalstore.com.

Posted in Admin, Materials | Comments Off on DIY Tactical’s New Site

CopterBox

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

CopterBox is a cargo delivery system that is useful in situations where a parachute wouldn’t be practical. Deployable in drop speeds of up to 140 knots from a wide variety of aircraft, it uses three rotor blades which slow the speed of descent using the principle of autorotative lift. In addition, a welded wire rotor hub protects the box prior to launch and allows the box to withstand aerodynamic and centrifugal forces during descent.

More information on CopterBox can be found at www.dropmaster.com.

Posted in Sustainment | Comments Off on CopterBox

MICH Helmet Balaclava

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Designed specifically for wear with a helmet, the Eagle Balaclava features a NomexÂ® skull cap area to eliminate hot spots and the remainder the material is fashioned from Dri Fire also used by Crye The balaclava also has an elastic adjustment and there are button holes on both sides of the mouth to accommodate boom microphones or Communications and Ear Protection wires.

The Balaclava is available directly from Eagle Industries.

Posted in Clothing, FR, Helmets | Comments Off on MICH Helmet Balaclava

Remagen Man Portable Bridge from Tactical & Rescue Gear

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

TRG's Remagen Bridge

TRG has been around for some time providing innovative solutions for warfighter problems. The Remagen Man Portable Bridge is one of the coolest things we have seen. Designed at the request of troops fighting house to house in Iraq, the Remagen is lightweight (91 lbs) and modular. Assembled in up to four sections (90â€ x 22â€ x 4â€) the bridge can span a 28′ obstacle and with an optional fifth panel can safely extend that to 33′ while supporting a 500 lbs load. The Remagen is manufactured from carbon fiber w/aluminum-G-10 fiberglass fittings and easily assembled in the field by a three man crew in 10 minutes.

TRG's Remagen Bridge Panel Can be Used as an Assault Ladder

Now all of this is already pretty handy, but wait. Flip a bridge panel over and it is an assault ladder. Now THAT is cool.

Expect to see lots more coverage of Tactical & Rescue Gear in the future. Until then, check them out on the web at www.trgear.com.

Posted in Gadgets, Sustainment | Comments Off on Remagen Man Portable Bridge from Tactical & Rescue Gear

Introducing Shellback Tactical

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Actually, an introduction makes it sound like Shellback is a new company but I actually met Mike Wratten, the owner at SHOT Show 08 in Las Vegas and the company’s roots go all the way back to 2003. Shellback started out as a producer of tactical nylon products to support weapon systems but has refined that position over the last six years to concentrate on the Law Enforcement community. Specializing in gear for the “Active Shooter” scenario, their new Active Shooter Assault Platform line is designed for the worst case scenario that a cop can face. Shellback Tactical has an exclusive arrangement with Tactical Assault Gear who manufacture their products in the USA. TAG also handles distribution of all Shellback products.

Shellback Tactical GO TIME Chest Rig for Active Shooter Scenarios

The GO TIME Active Shooter Chest Rig has been featured in SWAT Magazine and they now produce a PALS compatible version version so that the wearer has more configuration control for his rig. This video from Police One tells a little about the rig.

BLUtube is powered by PoliceOne.com

They can be found on the web at www.shellbacktactical.com.

Posted in PALS | Comments Off on Introducing Shellback Tactical

SALLE Ruck

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Excalibur Products Group offers the SALLE RUCK (Standard All-purpose Lightweight Loadcarrying Equipment). While the name begins with “standard”, it is anything but. First, the pack is mounted on a DEI 1606 Frame with suspension featuring Snap Dragon Buckles on the shoulder straps, sternum strap and waist belt. Additionally, the pack is manufactured from 500D cordura and has a 4000 cu in with plenty of pockets for organization.

SALLE Ruck

The main compartment has four interior pockets each capable of holding a 100oz hydration reservoir. The design also features 11 exterior pockets including a zippered accessory pocket mounted on top of the ruck, a low profile zippered flat pocket underneath the lid, four pockets on the right side of the ruck, three pockets on the left side, and two pockets in the rear integrating two interior small accessory pockets.

While the photos depict the SALLE ruck in the USAF’s new Digital Tigerstripe Pattern, it is also available in Coyote Brown, Foliage Green, Black, Multicam, UCP, Digital Desert, and Digital Woodland.

More photos can be found at Excalibur Products Group and the SALLE Ruck can be ordered from US Elite Gear.

Posted in Camo, Multicam, Packs, PALS | Comments Off on SALLE Ruck